Taizhou School Aesthetic Areas Of Research

The Taizhou School is a school that is of unique character in Chinese thought history. It dates back to the middle of Ming Dynasty that is full of critical contradictions, rises among the lower public and becomes popular in Ming and Qing Dynasties. It transmits Confucian spirits and develops the Yangming school on behalf of the common people, accumulates profound and novel philosophical thoughts, and finally it evolves into a practical, simple and free academic style.Aesthetics theory occupies an important position in the Taizhou School. It centers on"common people everyday use", covers"vitality"of Aesthetic characteristics theory,"body"of Aesthetic theory of creation and"pleasure"of Aesthetic experience theory, which constitutes a complete and clear-cut system framework.The first part is ontology, the core area of which is"common people everyday use".The Taizhou School stipulates elements that"common people everyday use". Wanggen, the founder of The Taizhou School, said that"common people everyday use"is the appearance of highest category in the area of Chinese philosophical thoughts, and its heart is"mean". The"mean"is the counterpart of the"false", and it reflects the original and natural human heart particularly possessed by men. The disciples of Wanggen enrich his elaboration. According to Wangbi,"innate knowledge"with character of"trueness"is the core of"common people everyday use". However, Yanjun and xinyin hold that"Master"with character of"Benevolence"is the core of it. Luorufang defines the contents of it and summarizes it as truthful original mentality and fundamental survival realm with character of"Virtue"Secondly, it expounds formal elements of"common people everyday use". Wanggen believes that the"common people everyday use"is most commonly reflected by"domestic trivia"of daily life. He further explains the moderate"commonplace", typical representation of common people everyday use". Whereas Hexinyin puts forward"teacher and study", a special form of"common people everyday use"As noumenon of beauty,"common people everyday use"embodies spiritual, surpass, expound, unique and liberate significance in survival aesthetics, ethical aesthetics, and action aesthetics. With its novel and sharp creativity, the Taizhou School pours into the daily life of lower public with significance of surpass value in noumenon of aesthetics. It affirms the basic needs and material lust of man positively; therefore the feudal Ethics rule is shake to some extent.The second part is Aesthetics characteristics theory, the core area of which is"vitality".The unique feature of"common people everyday use": firstly, it embodies in a series of vivid sentimental image, in which things and phenomenon of harmonious quality liking summer mirror the essence of social life. This beauty exists everywhere and changes over time. Through this, it vitalizes itself. However, there are something unchanged, that is properly a feeling toward vitality. It is this beauty closely linked with lower public that manifests the truth of cosmos life in its natural and sentimental image. Therefore, it gives everyone the cognitive ability to understand the Natural justice Avenue. Contrary to accurate sciences and inflexible Ethical preach, it teaches the whole world to use the true-to-life aesthetic image.A series of features in"common people everyday use"points to an important area --"vitality". In this theory, the basic meaning of"vitality"is"life", which is the fundamental attribute of all things on earth. Its connotation can be divided into following dimensions. Firstly,"nature of vitality", that is the unique quality that distinguishes human beings from other species . It shows in the pure ethical quality born with men.Secondly,"love of vitality", that is the attitude men hold toward life. Men can cherish and protect life of all kinds indiscriminately, including they themselves. Thirdly,"condition of vitality", that is the existence of living. Everything containing life are in a constant moving, once they stop progressing, the life ends."Vitality"unfolds itself strong life breath, realistic features and civilian color.The third part is Aesthetic theory of creation, the core area of which is"body".Connected with practical society and theory background, the Taizhou School aesthetics prescribes"body"as the main part that creates beauty. This area is a combination of body and spirit, representing ordinary people who are full of feeling, thoughts, unique character and value that can't be replaceable. In their opinion,"Body"and"Mean"are of equal importance; it is the nature of universe as well as countries.The innate knowledge an natural instincts possessed by human being are original beauty of"common people everyday use", whereas the specific practice approach uniquely possessed by"body", or so-called"appearance"is the origin of aesthetic creativity. What stimulates"body"to create is"desire", which is the motivation of creativity by"body". Therefore, people should comply with"desire"appropriately and properly instead of repressing and indulging ourselves. Common people are creating beauty of their"body". Their ways of realizing it are as following: Treasure the body and life, Settle down and get on with one's pursuit, be worldly wise and play safe, and Study the phenomena of nature in order to cultivate one's moral character. Treasure the body and life is the code of conduct of creating beauty in daily life. We can't do willingly at the cost of hurting others'safety and freedom. Settle down and get on with one's pursuit and be worldly wise and play safe can be regarded as the appropriate means when we deal with the relationship between men and nature or men and society. Studying the phenomena of nature in order to cultivate one's moral character is the practice mode when people are seeking truth in order to surpass the ordinary reality.The fourth part is"aesthetic expericing theory", the core area of which is"Pleasure".In aesthetics of the Taizhou School,"pleasure"is the essence of it. They hold that"pleasure"is the noumenon of heart, the true state of mind that is independent of external circumstances and avoid of affection. Secular utilitarian might hoodwink it sometimes. However, people can regain this valuable feeling by practicing"common people everyday use"."Pleasure"is a positive mentality, it manifests harmonious feelings people are in a state of dull. It differs from sensory enjoyment and personal satisfaction. However, it can't be considered as a negation of material enjoyment and personal fulfillment. Instead, it is a pleasure and comfort when there is a harmonious balance between body and heart, material and people. In addition,"Pleasure"is simple and direct. The kind of"Pleasure"can't be considered true pleasure if it comes by means and hooks.The process of obtaining"pleasure"is called"learning pleasure"by the Taizhou School. By expericing things and phenomenon in"common people everyday use", a person regains the realization of one's innate knowledge and then affirms their value of living. Through this way, they sense the deeply enjoyment and gain the feeling for"pleasure", the whole process is"learning pleasure". It not only calls for a thorough understanding of one lonely but also should communicate with teachers and friends. Moreover, we should also pace the time. However, individual's experience of"Pleasure"is only part of the story. Only through popularizing and enjoying it by more people that the process can be accomplished.The fifth part is the influence of"common people everyday use"on Ming and Qing aesthetics.The esthetics of the Taizhou School is much unparalleled. The dominating thoughts of emphasizing equality, individuality and practice represented by the novice aesthetic theory influences the establishment of a series of aesthetic areas in Ming and Qing Dynasties. This inluence shows itself evidently especially in aesthetics, which is closely linked with common people. For example, it is"popular"in dramatic aesthetics,"Passion"in novel aesthetics and"appropriate"in garden-constructing aesthetics.Through different comments on"popular"in drama by Liyu and Wang yangming, we can see the influence of"common people everyday use"aesthetics. It determines the contents become more and more popular in drama. It no longer confines to spreading loyalty and filial piety. Instead, it shows common people, domestic trivia and people's feeling by using pet phrases on the stage.In the area of novel aesthetics, the influence of"common people everyday use"is on spreading of"Passion". Being repressed by feudal moral principles for a long time,"passion"breaks its bondage and gains its legal position with its true loyalty as pure childlike innocence. Therefore, it becomes a common topic by novels. Also, it is pushed to a significant position, possessing unparalleled power and becoming a long-lasting noumenon of universe.In the esthetics of garden, the criterion of"appropriate"has been established. Appropriateness and usefulness has been used to judge a garden work. Garden's landscape should not only complement with natural scenery, complies with possessor's status, position, economic strength and his practical use, but also reflects architect's creative ability and aesthetic pursuits."Common people everyday use"of the esthetic of the Taizhou School is of very significance. It gives"Inferior", long neglected by people, a proper and vital position."Inferior"covers three kinds of meaning: They are material, common people and practice. They seem differ from each other, but in fact, the connection in their nature—they are subordinate exist in thoughts of Confucian School. They are put unparalleled emphasis as indispensable elements in"common people everyday use". Aesthetics of the Taizhou School shows its incomparable innovation and liberation forces in its unique way, thus it becomes a peak in aesthetic history.